Teen in Wednesday wreck in critical condition

A PHI Air Medical unit called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident Wednesday
afternoon on U.S. 60 about 11 miles east of Marion takes off with one patient headed for
Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. The wreck occurred around 12:15 p.m.

Emergency personnel responded to a single-vehicle injury accident early Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 60 about 11 miles east of Marion that left one teen in critical condition and sent three others to the hospital.

All of the occupants of the Volkswagen Beetle involved in the crash were juveniles, according to Crittenden County Sheriff's Deputy Greg Rushing. Rushing said three of the victims — Trey Large of Henderson and McKayla Syers and Hope Seay, both of Union County — were treated and released, but Shelby Hiser, 16, of Henderson, remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Hiser was taken from the scene by PHI Air Medical to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville and transferred later in the day to Kosair Hospital in Louisville. At that time he was taken from the scene, he was unable to feel anything below his chest, according to Rushing. Celeste King, a senior producer at WFIE 14 News in Evansville, told The Crittenden Press that a friend of the family reported "his spinal cord was pretty much severed" in the wreck.

Four juveniles from Union and Henderson counties were hurt
in the single-vehicle wreck Wednesday. Their Volkswagen Beetle
was westbound on U.S. 60 East before the driver lost control for
unknown reasons. The vehicle spun around and came to a rest
against a culvert on the opposite side of the road.

All victims were outside of the yellow  Beetle when emergency responders arrived. It is unclear at this time if they were thrown from the vehicle or managed out under their own power. Of the three other victims already released, one was taken to Methodist Hospital in Morganfield by Union County EMS and two were taken to Crittenden Health Systems by Crittenden EMS.

According to Rushing, the car, driven by Seay, was westbound on U.S. 60 East when she appeared to run off the road in a slight curve. The deputy said it looked as if she ran off the westbound shoulder and overcorrected, sending the car across the centerline and spinning around before crashing into a concrete culvert on the opposite side of the road.

The compact car came to rest in a flowing creek of water. Its top was crushed in and the rear of the car suffered severe damage where it slammed into culvert. The car carried Henderson County plates.

The accident happened at about 12:15 p.m., near the 20-mile marker on U.S. 60 East, which is just east of Rosebud Church.

The road was closed for almost two hours to clear the scene.

Other emergency units called to the scene were Mattoon and Sturgis fire departments.